What's the best dehumidifier for a 20 m² room?

For a 20 m² space you need something with a capacity of between 10 and 20 liters per day, it really depends on how much humidity you have. Compact types like Cecotec or generic Amazon brands work pretty well if it's not extreme humidity, but if you have serious problems (leaks, very damp area) I'd recommend investing in something more powerful like Olimpia Splendid or similar. The important thing is that it has a humidistat so it turns off on its own when humidity drops, that way you're not running the thing all day 😅

Compact ones work if the humidity isn't too severe, but for 20 m² I'd go for something with more capacity than what's suggested above - that 10-20 liters a day just isn't enough if you've got leaks, poor ventilation, or you live in a coastal area! A dehumidifier that does around 30 liters a day gives you more headroom without having to empty the tank every other day. Brands like Meaco or even some mid-range Philips models offer way better value than the generic stuff on Amazon, though obviously they cost a bit more. The important thing is to check the noise level - some of these things are a nightmare for sleeping.

The thing is, I had exactly that problem in my house a couple of years ago, so I know a thing or two about it. Twenty square meters is a pretty standard room, but here the key factor isn't really the size as much as *where* the humidity is coming from. If it's condensation on the windows or because the room's poorly ventilated, you can get by with something modest that pulls out 10-15 liters a day. Now, if there's water seeping in, visible mold, or it smells stale even when you open the window, then you need to step it up quite a bit.

In my case I had the typical problem of a room with bad ventilation and a wall with some water infiltration. The cheap dehumidifiers everyone buys online (those plastic ones that look like a mini air conditioner) would last a while but didn't actually solve anything. I ended up investing in a decent unit with capacity for about 20-25 liters a day and the difference was huge. The thing is, if you go with something compact, you have to keep an eye on emptying it constantly, because the tanks are small and it's annoying. If you can afford it, look for one that has continuous drain output so you don't have to babysit it.

My recommendation is that before you buy anything, try to improve the ventilation first, yeah? Open your windows regularly, use extractors if there's a bathroom or kitchen nearby. If the humidity still won't go away, then yeah, invest in a dehumidifier with a minimum capacity of 15-20 liters a day. That range covers almost any situation in a 20-square-meter room without throwing money down the drain.